LGBTQ Policy

Clear: Affirming

What does this score mean?

Clear: Affirming

The score for church websites that clearly communicate affirming LGBTQ+ policies.

Clear websites communicate their policies from their primary pages (e.g. Beliefs, About, Values) or accessibly links to policies from those pages. Alternatively, having openly practicing LGBTQ+ folks represented in pastoral roles would suffice in lieu of a policy. Affirming policies located in denominations’ websites do not count towards a church’s score, as affirming denominations do not require churches to be affirming.

Affirming policies place no restrictions on people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or Queer; they are allowed to participate and lead at all levels of church leadership and liturgy (e.g. marriage, ordination). Policies must specify both sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in their affirmation -- if only one is addressed, they will be scored as "unclear." Generic "we are inclusive" or "we welcome all" statements do not meet our standard for clarity.

Women in Leadership Policy

Clear: Egalitarian

What does this score mean?

Clear: Egalitarian

The score for churches whose egalitarian policies are adequately reflected in the current leadership personnel as listed on their websites.

Clear: Egalitarian churches permit women to serve at all levels of leadership within a local church and have clear, adequate representation in leadership ranks. Adequate representation = at least one woman or non-binary person holds a pastor title or leadership team is at least 50% non-male; this information must be clearly presented on the website. The pastor title must be a title that is distinguishable from titles that women have in non-egalitarian churches.